Numerical analysis of fence type support of apple trees

Damages to apple trees caused by typhoons have been repeated every year in Korea. Many types of support of apple trees such as single support, fence-type, matrix-type have been used; however, there is no standard type designed or specified by a code or manual. Most of the support is set up by farmers based on their experience, which results in frequent damage by typhoon. In this study, a prototype support for apple tree suggested by 'Rural Development Administration' is modelled for structural analysis. The previous test results of other trees for wind tunnel test is used as an input of numerical modeling, and the turnover test result of an apple tree is used to assess the strength of the support system. Numerical analysis is conducted for an assumed wind speed based on the test results to estimate the safety of the support. The appropriate steel-pile sizes of fence-type support are suggested based on the analysis result, which might be used as the standard type of support. Analysis results are also used for new design of the support with respect to a different wind speed by using the analysis model.